Stretcher.



Nl. V. HUBBARD.

STRETCHER.

APPLICATION fluo MAY 21.191'8.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2,0 Mm//mm FMUWL, 4#

MORRIS V. HUBBARD, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

STRETCHER.

naeaaaa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.. 3, 191..

Application led May 27, 1918. Serial No. 236,836.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, MORRIS V. HUBBARD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretchers,

of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of the character indicated that can be quickly and easily separated on a median line so that a patient may be deposited upon a bed or operating table witha minimum amount of disturbance. Other objects of my invention are to provide a devicel ofthe character indicated, 1st, that is provided with a resilien'tly mounted separable canvas member; 2nd, that can be quickly and easily taken apart and reassembled; 3rd, that is provided with collapsible handles; 4th, that can be `folded up into a compact bundle; 5th, that is economical tovmanufacture, substantial and practical.

With these and'other objects in-view my invention consists of the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, combination and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the'drawings and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view `of my improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig, 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the central coupling member, parts broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one set of spacing members in an operative position and adjacent portions of the stretcher proper. Fig. 6 is an.- inner side elevation of one side member, part broken away. Fig. 7 is a detail illustration of the lock for the spacing device.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. ln the following description one half of the device is described in detail and the corresponding parts in the other half are indicated by similar numerals followed by the letter a.

Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, one half of the device consists of a side pole 1 having plates 2 positioned upon either end, each 3 formed on each 4 provided near side thereof, and an orifice its inner edge. Adjacent plate 2 having a shoulder each plate 2, and on either side of pole 1, are inks 5 pivotally mounted on bolt 6 passing through pole 1. Each pair of links 5 has a handle 7 pivotally connected thereto by pivots 8, the handle 7, links 5 and plate .being so proportioned and so positioned wlth relation to each other that when the handle 7 issturned downwardly into the positlon B links 5 will engage shoulders 3 on plate 2 and thereby be held from further rotation while handle 7 may be swung around on pivots 8 into the position C. A portion of the under side of4 pole 1 is removed as at 9 to form a recess or pocket for handle 7 when it is thus revolved into position C. v

Hooked into orifices 4 and into eyes 10 spaced along the inner side of pole l, are a number of springs 1l. At 12 is indicated a ca nvas sheethaving a rod 13 positloned adjacent its outer .and longeredge and around which are hooked. Along the inner edge of sheet 12 are spaced a number of canvasl loops 14, the same alternating with similar loops 14a spaced along the inner edge of sheet 12B. At 15 is indicated a couplingmemberpositioned in loop 16 attached to sheet 12, and threaded as at 17 and 18 respectively to receive the threaded ends of rods 19 and 20. The rods 19 and 20 are provided with suitable handles as 21 through the alternating loops 14 and 14a and into coupling 15 securely fasten the two halves of the device together. Additional handles 23 are secured to the outer side of pole 1.

The spacing devices, one at each end of the stretcher, are identical in construction and therefore but one is described. Pivoted to pole 1 near handle 7'is a bar 24 having a notch 25 formed in its inner edge and at a point that is midway between poles 1 and l*l when the spacing device is in an operative position. The free end of bar "24 is and 22 and when passed the several springs 11 bent downwardly and inwardly to form a out and bars 24: and 30 swung out into such a position as indicated in dotted lines at 24;a

and 30a in Fig. 5. Shoving the two bars forwardly forces pin 31 into notch 25, causes hook 32 to engage bar 24 and hook to engage bar 30, and pin 28 to engage orifice 33 thereby securely locking the parts in the positionshown. They patient is now placed upon the stretcher in the usual manner. The stretcher with the patient upon 1t may now ,loe placed upon a table, or by folding handles 7 and 7a inwardly into the position C it may be placed directlyupon a bed of standard length.

The stretcher lmay now be removed with a minimum amount of discomfort to the patient by simply unscrewing and removing' rods 19 and 20, thus permitting the two halves of the stretcher to be withdrawn without removing the patient. By realining loops 14.- and 14 and replacing rods'19 and 20 and screwing the same into coupling 115' and relooking the spacing members, the stretcher is again rendered 'ready for use,

or the spacing devices may be folded back into their respective recesses and the whole device rolled up until again needed.l If the canvas 12 becomes soiled it may -be readily removed for washing by removing rods 19 and 20 and 13 and unhooking springs .11. The extreme ends of canvas' 12 are supported by buttoned straps asf/at 85.

Additional comfort is secured to the patient by the'use of springs 11 because these springs absorb a great deal of the vibration incident to moving, especially if the patient is to be carried some distance as in an amf bulance.

While I have herein shown and described one specific from of my invention, it is understood that changes in form and construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim 1. A stretcher comprising a pair of side rails, a pair of elongated flexible supporting members resiliently attached to said rails at vtheir outer edges, means for detachably connecting said HeXible members at their inner edges, collapsible means for locking said side rails in spaced relation t0 each other against the tension of said connectedl and resiliently mounted flexible members, and foldable handles operatively mounted upon the ends of said side rails.

2.y A stretcher comprising a pair of side rails, a pair of elongated flexible supporting members resiliently attached to said rails at their outer edges, means for detachably connecting said flexible members at their inner edges, and separable interlocking means pivotally mounted on said rails for spacing said rails and holding said members under tension, said rails having recesses formed therein t0 receive said interlocking means when not in an operative position.

3. A stretcher comprising a pair of side rails, an elongated fieXible supporting member attached t0 each rail at its outer edge, and means for detachably connecting the said flexible supporting members at their inner edges, said means comprising a coupling tapped lat each end to receive threaded rods and secured t0 one supporting member adjacent its inner. edge and midway the length of said edge, a plurality of loops spaced along said edge in alinement with said coupling, a plurality of loops spaced along the inner edge of the other supporting member and adapted to alternate with the first mentioned loops, and rods having threaded ends adapted to engage both sets of loops and said coupling and maintain the same in alinement, and each of said rods 'having a handle attached to its outer end.

1. A stretcher comprising a pair of side rails, an elongated flexible supporting member attached to each rail at its outer edge, and means for detachably connectmg thc said flexible supporting members at their l inner edges, said means comprising a coupling secured to one supporting member adjacent its inner edge and midway the length of said edge, a plurality of loops spaced along said edge in alinement with said cou pling, a plurality of loops spaced along the inner edge of the other supporting member and adapted to alternate with the first mentioned loops, and rods adapted to engage both setslv of loops and said coupling and maintain the same in alinement.

5. A stretcher comprising a pair of side rails, an elongated eXible supporting member attached to each rail at its outer edge, and means for detachably connecting the said iexible supporting members at their inner edges, said means comprising a conpling secured to one supporting member adjacent its inner edge' and midway the length of said edge, a plurality of loops spaced along said edge in alinement with said coupling, a plurality of loops spaced along the inner edge of thc other supporting member and adapted to alternate with the first mentioned loops, and rods adapted to engage both sets of loops and said conpling and maintain the same in alinement and independent means for detachably connectin of sai supporting members,

the eXtreme ends of the inner edges stretcher, separable means for lockin the side rails in spaced relation to each ot er, said means comprising a bar pivotally mounted on each rail, each bar having an inwardly directed hook4 formed on the end thereof adapted to engage the outer edge of the other bar When the device is in an operative position, one bar having a notch formed in its inner edgeand directed l each of sitioned at leach of the twov longer edges of said supporting member and a plurality of resilient members removably attached to said rails and the adjacent rod.

8. A stretcher comprising a pair of -side rails, an elongated Hexible supporting member, and means for removably attaching said supporting member to said side rails, said Ameans comprising a loop formed in each of vthe two 'longer edges of said support-,in

member, a rod removably inserted in eac loop, a` perforated plate secured Vto each end of each siderail, a plurality of eyes arranged along the inner 4edge of each side rail, and a resilient member connected to each of said perforated plates and said eyes lsaid supporting notch when the de-.

pin in engagement v side of said and rod. r

9,- A stretcher comprising a pair of side rails, a separable, elongated, flexible supporting-member, and means for attaching said supporting member to said side rails, said means comprising a rod removably positioned at each of the two longer edges of member and a plurality of removably connected to the adjacent ttt resilient members attachedI to each of said rails and the adjacent rod. ,l

10. The combination With the side rails` of a stretcher of a folding handle and stop device, comprisinga shouldered plate secured to the upper surface ofthe end of said rail, a link pivotallymounted on each rail and adapted to engage said shouldered plate 4When positioned at a predetermined angle to said rail, Aand a handle pivotally'connected to bothl of Vsaid links, said side rails being provided with recesses on their under sides to receive said handles when folded.

ll. A stretcher comprisinga pair of side dill rails having folding handles mounted on the ends thereof, and recesses to receive said handles When folded, a separable,

elongated, Hexible tached thereto, and separable, interlockin meansA for spacing said rails and holding said supporting member under tension, said rails havin recesses .formed ceive said interlocking means an operative position.

ln testimony whereof l have agixled my signature this lth'day l i when not in hereunto of May,

MORRIS V. HUBBARD. i

therein to reet supporting member atro i 

